Do you think that Hardik Pandya-KL Rahul controversy is over-hyped in the mainstream?

So, what Hardik Pandya and KL Rahul said in the episode of Koffee With Karan wasn’t something that women and men don’t already go hee-haw about in group talks.

Sure, it was a lot crass and absurd on the players’ part to have, in Trump-esque words, “the locker room talk” on national television. But the whole controversy is now beyond the threshold mark, hyped and stretched in mainstream unnecessarily.

It doesn’t as much say about the patriarchal Indian society as it does about the hypocrisy of social justice warriors who contend for freedom of speech and right to expression. The whole Hardik Pandya-KL Rahul controversy underlines the social fabric of intolerance that we’re covered under.

Understand the timeline of this whole event:

· “When I lost my virginity, I came home and said, 'Main karke aya hai aaj (I had sex today)'. At a party my parents asked me 'acha tera wala (women) kaun sa hai [who is your interest here?] so I said yeh, yeh, yeh (pointing out women)' and they were like 'waah proud of you beta'” responded Hardik Pandya to one of Karan Johar’s questions.

“I like to watch and observe how they (women) move. I'm little from the black side so I need to see how they move,” Pandya further added.

(Courtesy: India Today)

Through the conversations, KL Rahul remained composed and well-respectful in the selection of his words and expressions.

· After the airing of that KWK episode, a huge cry followed on social media. Hardik apologized for his comment in his tweets.

After reflecting on my comments on Koffee with Karan, I would like to apologize to everyone concerned who I may have hurt in any way… Honestly, I got a bit carried away with the nature of the show. In no way did I mean to disrespect or hurt anyone's sentiments. Respect,” Pandya Tweeted.

(Of course, the apology wasn’t going to go down well with the social warriors who are victims of radical feminism. The controversy and bashing and abusing against Pandya continued.)

Also read: What all did Koffee with Karan cost Hardik Pandya?

· “What Hardik has spoken at the show speaks poorly of the BCCI and Indian cricket. An apology is not enough, and strong action should be taken so that right example can be set for the younger generation,” BCCI responded, possibly under pressure from all the noise on Twitter and news channels. The board decided to penalize Pandya for his words, which he has apologized for already.

· A BCCI committee sends a show cause notice to Hardik Pandya and KL Rahul, seeking their explanation within 24 hours. It also decides to bar players from partaking in any non-cricket shows.

· Pandya responded to the show cause notice. He said, “I would like to assure you that there was no malice or any sort of ill-intent on my part to offend anyone or portray any section of the society in a bad light. I made these statements in the flow of the show and had not comprehended the extent to which my statements would be found offensive.”

· Pandya’s father defended his son, saying he was only looking to entertain the audience. Captain Virat Kohli, too, reacted, saying “We as the Indian cricket team and responsible cricketers don't align with those views, those were individual opinions. We are still waiting for a decision to be made.”

· Hardik Pandya and KL Rahul both get suspended and called back home in the mid of ongoing India vs Australia 3-ODI series.

· Reactions continue pouring in, including from top cricket players like Harbhajan Singh, Gavaskar and Ganguly.

· In the course of this event, Gillette decided to cut endorsement ties with Pandya. Iconic Khar Gymkhana in Mumbai revoked the honorary three-year membership of Pandya.

Again, I am not siding with Pandya and Rahul. What they said was definitely wrong and quite insensitive coming from leading personalities.

But they didn’t say anything outside to what men and women usually talk about with friends. To that, they have apologized. And in addition, they have been reprimanded for their words. The on-going controversy just mirrors the intolerance of a group in the garb of “feminism” or “social justice”.

The now-infamous Hardik Pandya-KL Rahul controversy does say a lot of patriarchy. But it also speaks in similar volume about the bigotry of “free” and “modern” society we’re in right now. Men and women are equally to be blamed.

The latest saga of two cricketers is just one fine example in the macro picture of the post-modernism where social justice warriors and radical feminists hold values and views in accordance to the convenience.

Ask the people crying about the “heinous” comments about Pandya and patriarchy – ask them if they support a ban on ****.

Ask those people who are “astonished” about the personal opinion of a few individuals—ask them if they support banning free speech.

You will find gaps in aplenty in their beliefs and values.

Yes, the comments from Pandya and KL Rahul were bad. But they have apologized for it and subsequently got punished. Get over it and focus on the fundamental issues of the society like rapes, molestation, unemployment, poverty, selling out of media, farmers—and NOT what a person said on national television.